Political Correctness Has Gone Too Far

In this article the research I collected explains the use of political correctness at a University. The purpose of political correctness is to avoid or take extreme measures to desist any action or expression that may exclude, marginalize, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against. It is clear that majority of the people in this article are not satisfied by the way issues were handled at the University. The author presented relevant information to answer the question; “Is political correctness an enemy of free speech?”. Some government officials that were brought into this situation, agreed with political correctness and what it means. While doing this research I learned that political correctness in not only this, but also is a tool used to control people's speech so that no one feels offended. I believe political correctness is barricade for anyone who wants a power of choice. Moreover, this article is useful for an analysis on limitations for societies in

Although we, as citizens of this country, are guaranteed freedom of speech and press by the first amendment, we are encouraged to “watch what we say”. In order to avoid unnecessary violence and to keep people from being offended, it is recommended the certain things be censored. While many may look at this censorship as a well-needed percussion it can reversely be seen as going against one's first amendment rights, in itself causing controversy.

However, many groups claim that political correctness in society is justified in its efforts to sanitize offensive material created though years of oppressing minorities. What was originally a noble idea, to remove blatant words of offensive meaning, has turned into an “over the top” effort to rid any words of possible controversy. We are regulating our ways of plain speaking, freedom of choice, and freedom of speech. Laws of restrictions on slander and public decency should be decided on the common law methodology and not by the interests of the liberal “mob”. If plain speaking is not allowed, clear thinking is

Many of the predictions made by George Orwell in his book 1984 in relation to corruption of language are recognizable in the United States today. Our language is in the process of changing. The introduction of politically correct words and phrases over the past few decades is based on the principles of Orwell's Newspeak. Today, this phenomenon is a tool of liberals used to erase the opinions of the past, and to help propagate new ideas, and is rooted in the same motives as Newspeak. Although Political Correctness may not be all-encompassing as its Orwell's Newspeak, Political Correctness is equally as dangerous and oppressive to free thought. For example, terms such as "Affirmative Action" implies Action which is correct ("Affirmative" means correct, and "Action" is normally good as well) when actually what is meant is the preferential treatment for a particular minority group. The word "Peacekeepers," now refers to a soldier that occupies a foreign nation. During the cold war, when the USSR would do that type of thing,

agree with the use of political correctness. It can be  beneficial and have some disadvantages.

The politically correct movement is made

According to the Oxford English Dictionary many words and phrases we use today are at their root, offensive. For example cretin is used to mean an idiot but, in the Nineteenth century this word was used for those with severe congenital birth defects similar to cerebral palsy. This word came from the Swiss French meaning “Christian” to remind others that these unfortunates were still human beings. The phrase “no can do” is actually Pidgin English from Chinese immigrants meaning “I can’t do that”. Too much effort is made to not offend people and political correctness is out of control threatening to end our way of life.

Not only does political correctness limit language, it limits competition between groups. For example the competition between the upper and lower class for power would cease if we were made to be politically correct. We need the upper and lower class for our society to function correctly. Without competition society can not thrive, and the philosophy of political correctness attempts to make people equals which effectively blocks individual success thus eliminating any motive to take the risks necessary to succeed. How can a person move up in this world with out stepping on others, and every time someone steps on someone else they will use methods or words that could be taken as politically incorrect. It is the nature of capitalism and democracy to have competing groups which ultimately leads to a separation of the bourgeoisie and proletariat or the upper and lower class. This is the greatest good a capitalistic democratic society can reach because the factions are not permanent; the members of each group are free to move

Like George Carlen, I completely agree that using “soft language” to compensate for simple, honest, direct words has gone too far. He gives examples such as how “shell shock” is now transformed into “PTSD”, cripples are now “physical impaired” and so on. Carlen is right in when he says, “soft language takes the life out of life”. He’s basically saying that we are sugar coating the reality of things. At some point when politically correct language began to gain steam, it heightened people’s overall sensitivity level and took away accountability and created an illusion. For example, as Younkin’s points out, what is now known as “culturally deprived”. It’s the 21 century! Yes, we still have different class levels

The term politically correct first appeared in the 1960’s and from then it has evolved far beyond its originally purposes. In his article “Apple Removes All American Civil War Games From the App Store Because of the Confederate Flag”, Tasos Lazarides informs people about Apple’s decision to remove the imagery of the Confederate Battle Flag the author does not take a strong position in the argument. He uses the article more for informational purposes, as opposed to using the article for an argument. Recently there has been uproar over the use of the Confederate Battle Flag. People find it offensive and therefore, it is being taken down everywhere. The flag is historical and does carry connotations; however, that is

“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” (Proverbs 18:21) Words are powerful. Words are capable of expressing one’s views, sparking wars and leaving scars. They have the power to endear, separate, and communicate. The censorship of dangerous words, such as racial slurs, in school curriculum has drawn many controversial opinions. Racial slurs, according to dictionary.com, are a derogatory or disrespectful nickname for a racial group (Dictionary.com). Specifically for the African American race, the racial slur is the N- word. The usage of the N-word in its modern form has become more prevalent in society. Boundaries of its usage are grey in political, educational and social environments. Leaders, teachers and often society as a whole fail to appropriately recognize the true meaning of the African American racial slur. Because modern youth have unreliable sources, false knowledge and twisted views from which they draw their insight on the origin of the N-word; misinterpretation is common thus leading to its misuse. Misuse occurs when the true definition is not taken into consideration when teaching, using, or referencing the N-Word. This generation of young minds lack the unbiased education, the historical insight and cultural knowledge of the N-word needed to fully understand its meaning; consequently, modern youth are desensitized to the N-word. Insensitivity causes racial issues.

The language that a group may find offensive may serve the purpose of show the setting or convey a specific point in time. Books such as Huckleberry Finn have edited the word “nigger” because it offended African American people. But why should this be changed if all Twain was trying to do was give the reader an insight on what 1835 was like? It was purposely written this way because, it was really how people spoke in that era. If the word was changed it would not give the same context.

The feeling of discrimination and subordination, the idea of judged by race and by who you are, the fear of being eliminated. Why? Why do many of these thoughts still exist today? Has political correctness gone mad? Well, the answer is yes. Many of us, no matter who we are or where we are, still experience the feeling of discrimination and being lost, the idea of being judged by race and who you are, and the fear of elimination, whether it be in real life scenario or maybe even a friend group at school. The point here is that these awful parts of life still exist today and are sadly continuing to progress. In The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli,

The term that was the most difficult to change is " I am an AIDS victim. This term is the most shocking to me because this syndrome is a chronic potentially life threatening; I might feel week, and close to death. Other terms that are very rude and disrespectful to me are: " I am retarded, I am dummy, I am imbecile." These phrases spread hurt, are offensive and derogatory. I do believe that all people have the right and deserve to be treated respectfully.

Political correctness is a political ideology, nothing more. I believe political correctness is a political ideology and it cannot be correct unless it is linked to genuine transformation. First, I will examine the origins of political correctness to try to get a clear understanding of what this movement is. Second, I will show you that political correctness is political and how it became a political ideology. Lastly, I shall discuss why this ideology does not work.